Risk Factors for Pediatric Inpatient Falls

Risk factors of falls among inpatients with cancer

“…Among the risk factors of falls identified in this study, use of an assistive device, a history of falls, a high ECOG score, fatigue, abnormal vital signs, surgery, use of benzodiazepines, use of steroids and use of antipsychotic drugs were consistent with the results of previous studies (Cho et al. ; Cox et al. ; Evans et al.…”

“…In the case of using an assistive device, the odds of falling were 3.41 times higher, and this corresponded to the result of a study on paediatric falls, in which the group that used an assistive device had higher odds of falling than the group that did not use an assistive device (Cho et al. ). The study by Cho et al.…”

“…The study by Cho et al. () reported that an assistive device is frequently used because of age, which increases the risk of falls. Patients with cancer also frequently use an assistive device because of age or metastasis; thus, when an assistive device is used, preemptive prevention measures should be implemented, and education should be provided.…”

“…However, in South Korea, there have been domestic studies on fall risk factors only in elderly individuals and children (Cho et al. ; Kim & Lee ). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors and predictors of falls in inpatients with cancer in order to establish effective fall prevention strategies in these patients.…”

Predictive Factors for Inpatient Falls among Children with Cerebral Palsy

“…Graf (2005) reported that male gender, long length of hospital stay (N5 days), having more than one diagnosis, communication defects, confusion, retardation of growth, muscle weakness, requirement for physical and occupational therapy, impaired gait, impaired balance, requirement for ambulation aid, anticonvulsant use, neurological diagnosis, epilepsy and orthopedic diagnosis all increase the probability of falling, while factors such as diseases related to general surgery, infection, intravenous treatment and having parents nearby decrease the probability of pediatric inpatient fall risk. Hyperactivity and general weakness have also been identified as inpatient fall risk factors among hospitalized children (Cho, Song, & Cha, 2013). Finally, in a large children's hospital, lower nurse staffing levels during shifts were found to be associated with inpatient falls (Hagan & Jones, 2015).…”